Venting it away!

The start is the most terrifying part whenever you want to write something!?

There are like these thousands of things you want to write about, but just don't know where to start! I think now as I write, it is mostly about me opening up or something like finding that voice again you know...

There was this time when you would always be occupied with one thing or another. But it has so drastically changed since Covid. And like it must’ve affected many people, I too suffered.?

The most obvious change that has taken place is that The Pre-Covid era (as now we are calling times) was a more fear - free one compared to The Post-Covid. The fact that it is not over yet and we still hear a 3rd wave coming our way gives me the liberty to write so. Not that I want to make you feel sad as you read this, but just taking this opportunity to vent it out in a way.

The Virus:

None of us would have thought that as minute a thing as a virus can cause such a terrible pandemic. But now that we all are a part of such a thing, it?in itself is momentous.??

The Feeling:

I will not highlight the specifics in detail, because I myself don't want to go down that memory lane again. But to sum up the overall experience, I think I can call it “traumatic” - maybe?

?There was a period when the mind was stuck in an endless loop of worry. Believe me you wont even know how and when it starts happening to you. All of a sudden there are these thoughts which keep repeating. In medical terms, it is called “rumination”. There are certain triggers which give rise to these thoughts. And the triggers could be anything! Any random thought of anger, resentment, self - hatred would start these thoughts. One of the bad things about this state is that it disrupts our body state too. There will be pains in any part of your body. You will feel very stiff, the chest will tighten up, you may feel agitated, you will lose sleep etc. Overall it is very overwhelming.?

The Cure:

One of the most fundamental things to keep in mind is that the state which you are in is not your final one. And most importantly, it is not who you are. It is just a body reaction. So keep aside the TABOO.?

You will need to be damn good at being AWARE. I’ll let you read the sentence again and gulp it’s importance. Awareness means realizing we are not the thought that we have at the moment.?

How to get rid of that ? Practice these five things:

• Look at any object in-front of you and say without any judgement (be neutral), E.g: I see the wall, I see the chair etc.
• Acknowledge all the voices in your vicinity and say (again without any judgement being neutral), E.g: I hear the car’s honk, I hear the sound of the fan, I hear the sound of the bird etc.
• Feel the clothes that you have worn and say (no judgement, be neutral), E.g I feel the trouser on my skin, I feel the t-shirt on my skin etc.
• Bring your awareness to the point of contact that you are making, E.g I feel the chair under my thighs, I feel the ground under my feet etc.
• Eat mindfully and say, E.g I enjoy the taste of the vegetable, I enjoy curd etc.

The above listed things will help you to calm your nerves and focus better. Some other things which can certainly be helpful are:

• Exercise. Take out 30mins from your time daily on priority :p.
• Spend more time with nature. Walk barefoot on the ground or whenever you go for a jog, remove those shoes. Being grounded will help you neutralize the energy.?
• Keep a gratitude journal. List down at least five things / people? you are grateful for.?
• Eat right. Avoid sweeteners and dairy products. Increase fruit intake. Take a diet rich in Vitamin C, D.
• Breathe. This is by far the most underutilized tool. Learn to breathe properly (YES! For most of the time in our day, we don't breathe in the correct way! ). Watch you-tube videos, read articles. You’ll get a lot on the internet.
• Be kind to yourselves. Unfortunately, we learn to bitch, judge, speak ill of others. This is the core reason that the need to be kind to ourselves has arrived :/

These things will not all of a sudden start to show effect. So be patient with yourselves. Stick to it. Eventually, the disturbing thought pattern will break. :)